At least 30 children in Ibanda District have undergone successful surgical procedures during a two-day paediatric surgical camp held at Uganda Martyrs Hospital Ibanda, in collaboration with Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital and BethanyKids Uganda.
The outreach programme targeted children below 12 years suffering from congenital abnormalities such as hernias, undescended testes, and anorectal malformations—conditions that often go untreated due to financial constraints and limited access to specialised care.
Among the beneficiaries was 12-year-old Justine Kyokushaba, who had lived with an untreated anorectal malformation for years before finally receiving surgery during the camp.
Her mother said the intervention came after years of hopelessness due to the high cost of treatment.
“I had lost hope because I could not afford the medical bills,” she said. “But this camp has given my child a new chance at life.”
Another parent, Judith Nuwasima, shared a similar experience, saying she first noticed her child’s hernia shortly after birth but was unable to afford surgery despite repeated hospital visits.
“This free camp has come as a blessing to us,” she said.
Dr. Gothaldo Tumubugane, Medical Director at Uganda Martyrs Hospital Ibanda, confirmed that all 30 children were successfully operated on, with the majority of cases involving hernias and undescended testes.
“This surgical camp has enabled us to address conditions that would otherwise continue affecting these children’s quality of life,” he said.
Ambrose Besigye, Team Leader at BethanyKids Uganda, said the initiative reflects the organisation’s commitment to ensuring equitable access to surgical care for children in underserved communities.
“Our focus is on children because they are the future generation. Every child deserves access to quality surgical care regardless of financial background,” he said.
The camp underscores the importance of partnerships between public hospitals and specialised organisations in expanding access to paediatric surgical services in rural Uganda.
According to the World Health Organization, congenital anomalies are structural or functional conditions present from birth that can lead to long-term disability or death if untreated. Globally, millions of children are born with such conditions each year.
In Uganda, health data indicates that congenital anomalies account for a significant proportion of paediatric surgical cases, making early detection and intervention critical in reducing complications and improving child survival rates.
Health experts say strengthening early screening at lower health facilities and improving community awareness could significantly reduce the burden of congenital conditions across the country.
The Ibanda surgical camp is among a growing number of outreach initiatives aimed at bridging gaps in specialised healthcare access for rural populations.
